Stef Van Grieken is a tech entrepreneur, angel investor, and industrial engineer. He is also the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cradle.Â
Founded in 2021, Cradle is an AI startup that uses generative AI to revolutionize protein engineering. It enables scientists to design and engineer proteins with desired properties, reducing time and cost. The platform has the potential to impact industries like pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and materials science.
Its AI models predict protein behavior and optimize designs with high accuracy, enabling faster breakthroughs. It has collaborated with major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson, and Grifols. Today, the startup is estimated to be valued between $292 to $438 million.
Before working at Google, Stef started a non-profit organization called the Open State Foundation in the Netherlands. This organization aimed to make government more transparent and accountable. He created websites and tools that helped people understand government decisions and participate in the political process. Becasue of this, Stef Van Grieken was awarded the Time Magazine Top Website of 2012 award and a European Public Sector Award.
| Stef Van Grieken’s Personal Stats and Other Details | |
| Residence | Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Citizenship | Switzerland |
| Marital Status | Unknown |
| Children | Unknown |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Groningen; Master in Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Groningen |
| Current Net Worth and Salary (2024) | Unknown |
| Companies | Cradle |
| Achievements | Co-founder and CEO of Cradle |
This article will look into Stef Van Grieken’s net worth, education, career, and more.
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Stef Van Grieken Net Worth
Unfortunately, we do not have any reliable information available on Stef Van Grieken’s net worth. We will update this section as soon as we come across any legitimate data on his wealth.
However, as the co-founder and CEO of Cradle, Stef Van Grieken’s net worth is dependent on how well Cradle performs. Since the startup is estimated to be valued at around $292 to $438 million, it is likely that Stef Van Grieken has a decent net worth.
Education
Stef van Grieken attended the University of Groningen. In 2006, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy. Motivated by an interest in the philosophy of technical sciences and a desire to balance his engineering-focused education, he took courses in ethics, logic, argumentation, and the philosophy of science. Although he did not complete this degree, Stef plans to revisit it later.
In parallel, Stef was enrolled in a Master of Science (MSc) program in Industrial Engineering and Management. The program started in 2004 and completed in 2012. This program, with an IT specialization, integrated computer science, business administration, and general engineering.
During his studies, he participated in various activities, including the student fraternity R.K.S.V. Albertus Magnus, the Debating Society Kallilope, the choir G.S.M.G. Bragi, underwater hockey with G.S.O.V. Octopus, and rowing with G.S.R. Aegir.
He also gained teaching experience in 2010 by instructing Software Engineering I and II for third-year computer science students. His thesis, Open Data: A Design for the Provisioning of Dutch Government Public Transport and Geo-Spatial Data, received an A+ grade and was published and presented at the European e-Challenges 2011 conference.
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Career
Stef van Grieken began his career in June 2011 as a Policy Advisor at the European Parliament. There he worked closely with Marietje Schaake, a Member of the European Parliament recognized as “Europe’s most wired politician” by The Washington Post. During his 10-month tenure, he advised on IT-related policies, contributing to technology-driven initiatives.
In October 2011, Stef founded and served as Chairman of the Board at the Open State Foundation, the largest Dutch organization promoting public transparency and accountability. Over seven years, he played a pivotal role in establishing the foundation as a leader in open data and digital transparency.
Stef Van Grieken joined Startupbootcamp in September 2013 as a Founder in Residence, mentoring 11 startups from the NFC & Contactless Class of 2014. He hosted five tech talks on topics such as scalability, API design, developer relations, and metrics for success. He also built a community of over 100 developers engaged with the program.
In February 2013, Stef began a five-month Software Engineering internship at Google in the San Francisco Bay Area. As part of his MSc in Industrial Engineering, he worked on Google’s network research team, analyzing and deploying internet measurement tools.
In February 2014, Stef returned to Google as a Technical Program Manager in the Social Impact team, based in London. Over nearly two years, he managed engineering programs addressing critical issues such as elections, crisis response, flu trends, and mobility. His work supported impactful global initiatives, gaining media coverage in outlets such as Wired.
In October 2015, Stef became a Product Manager for Android Automotive at Google in Mountain View, California. He led the development of a full-featured infotainment platform for connected cars, integrating modern automotive systems with Android’s flexibility. His work gained recognition in both the Dutch and international press.
Stef transitioned to Google X in October 2016, working as a Product Manager on the Foundry team. He guided technological due diligence, product development, and economic strategies for early-stage “moonshot” projects, contributing to groundbreaking innovations over nearly four years.
In February 2019, he joined Google AI (Brain) as a Senior Product Manager, leading infrastructure and applied machine learning projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. By August 2020, he had transitioned to a Senior/Group Product Manager role, overseeing Google’s initiatives related to flying, including Google Flights.
In October 2021, Stef Van Grieken Cradle, a Zurich-based company leveraging generative AI to help biologists design improved proteins in record time. He has been serving as the startup’s CEO since. Alongside his entrepreneurial endeavors, he has been an active Angel Investor through Operator Exchange since 2011.
Latest Updates
Cradle recently raised $73 million in Series B funding led by IVP, with additional support from existing investors Index Ventures and Kindred Capital. This latest investment brings Cradle’s total funding to over $100 million.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is the CEO of Cradle AI?
The chief executive officer (CEO) of Cradle AI is Stef Van Grieken. Stef founded the startup in October 2021 and has been serving as its CEO since.
What is the worth of Cradle AI?
Today, estimates put Cradle AI’s valuation to be somewhere between $292 to $438 million. The startup also raised $73 million in Series B funding led by IVP, bringing its total funding to $100 million.
